Karl Stefanovic slammed for 'flaunting' new girlfriend

MELBOURNE comedian and radio host Meshel Laurie has slammed Karl Stefanovic for flaunting his new relationship with model and shoe designer Jasmine Yarbrough, just months after separating from his wife last year.

The Today show host, 42, and Yarbrough, 33, went public with their relationship this week.

They were photographed sitting front row at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, canoodling in the street and out to dinner together at a swanky Sydney restaurant.

For months the pair have been spotted travelling around the country together and were papped making out in Los Angeles while Stefanovic was on holidays.

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In recent weeks Stefanovic's ex-wife Cassandra Thorburn was snapped clearing out the former couple's family home and enjoying a wine and cigarette on the beach.

Speaking to her KIIS FM co-host Matt Tilley on Friday morning, Laurie said the couple are being "insensitive" and "rude" by going public with their relationship so soon after Stefanovic's divorce.

"It feels a little insensitive," Laurie said. "All you ever see are photos of the ex [Thorburn] cleaning out the house. She's got the kids, she's doing the life and Karl is at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, or he's flying off overseas for holidays. I think this is a bit rude," she said.

Stefanovic accompanied Yarbrough to the hairdressers on Thursday, with the Sydney hair salon sharing a photo of the pair joking around on Instagram.

"He's posed for a cute photo waiting for his girlfriend to get her hair done ... If you don't want to be talked about, that's probably the wrong way to go about it," Laurie said.

"Is he doing anything wrong? Well, it depends. Is it criminal? No. Is it illegal? No, is it a bit bloody shameless and rotten? Maybe."

When Tilley suggested that Yarbrough would be upset if Stefanovic tried to hide their relationship, Laurie said she should "just cop it".

"What if she starts saying to him 'Karl, how come you hide me?'" Tilley said.

"Do you know what? She can just cop it mate," Laurie responded, "because he's got kids and an ex-wife who's stood by him for 100 years and they have a life together that still needs to be protected."

Earlier this month, fellow KIIS host Jackie O said the women of Australia were "angry" at Karl for being so public with his new love.

"They see a mother who stood by him for all those years ... This is what a lot of women would think: this is a lovely lady that stood by him for years, they have a family and they see him leave her," Jackie O told co-host Kyle Sandilands.

She said the situation was terrifyingly relatable for many women.

"And this is what they think: 'He's just left her for some young 20-year-old and he's cavorting around, kissing her, cuddling her, for everyone to see'," she explained.

"What do his children think? This is what women think. They also believe that could happen to me.

"They take it out on Karl - their anger and their insecurities - and they look at Karl and they're blaming him. And it probably will take quite some time to repair that."

Stefanovic and Thorburn have finalised their divorce settlement, with Thorburn reportedly to receive $6 million in cash and assets, while Stefanovic will walk away with $500,000.

They have also agreed to share custody of their three kids Jackson, 17, Ava, 12, and River, 10.